Load Specifications
Load data in caliber .500 N.E. 3'' with .510 | 600gr | Woodleigh PP SN bullet and 44 powders. The key underlying parameters are shown in the table above. The recommended powders for this cartridge and bullet combination are Alliant Reloder-17, ReloadSwiss RS 60 and Bofors RP3.
Important Notice: DO NOT go below Minimum Charge or above Maximum Charge. Since we have no control over the equipment and components used, any responsibility and liability for the results achieved is rejected.
Only powders/loads that match the current filter criteria are displayed: max pressure of a load ≤ 90% of max. standardized pressure, fill rate ≥ 80% and propellant combustion ≥ 95%. Use the sliders above the tables to adjust these thresholds.
Charge: Powder weight in grains. Start with the minimum load and work up carefully.
FR (Fill Rate): Case fill as a percentage. Values above 100% mean compressed loads.
MaxP / %: Maximum chamber pressure in bar and as a percentage of the standardized maximum for this caliber.
V(0): Muzzle velocity in feet per second (fps) at the standardized barrel length.
z (Powder Burn): Estimated propellant combustion percentage at bullet exit.
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Max Load - Barrel Length: 26"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 1972 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,579 psi | 90% | 1995 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,579 psi | 90% | 1995 fps | 99.5% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,492 psi | 90% | 2001 fps | 99.9% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 98% | 36,376 psi | 90% | 2051 fps | 95.9% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,535 psi | 90% | 1975 fps | 97.1% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,288 psi | 87% | 1939 fps | 95.8% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,940 psi | 89% | 1991 fps | 97.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,534 psi | 85% | 1962 fps | 95.9% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | <<locked>> | 92% | 35,897 psi | 88% | 2047 fps | 97.2% |
| Bofors RP3 | <<locked>> | 88% | 35,186 psi | 87% | 1991 fps | 97.9% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,201 psi | 89% | 1998 fps | 98.7% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 82% | 36,738 psi | 90% | 1985 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 98% | 34,838 psi | 86% | 1975 fps | 96.8% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,983 psi | 86% | 1998 fps | 97.7% |
| Hodgdon TrailBossᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,127 psi | 84% | 1283 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,940 psi | 86% | 1939 fps | 97.1% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,666 psi | 90% | 2011 fps | 100% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 88% | 36,535 psi | 90% | 1955 fps | 96.5% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,273 psi | 87% | 1985 fps | 96.9% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,680 psi | 90% | 1998 fps | 99.5% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 1965 fps | 98.3% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,810 psi | 88% | 1942 fps | 98.1% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,650 psi | 88% | 1955 fps | 99.6% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,056 psi | 89% | 1991 fps | 97% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 86% | 35,766 psi | 88% | 1998 fps | 96.6% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 34,258 psi | 84% | 1312 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,505 psi | 87% | 2031 fps | 96.2% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,955 psi | 89% | 2060 fps | 99.3% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,245 psi | 89% | 1942 fps | 98.2% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 90% | 35,244 psi | 87% | 1985 fps | 97.6% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 84% | 36,680 psi | 90% | 1998 fps | 99.5% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,318 psi | 89% | 1965 fps | 98.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 88% | 34,795 psi | 86% | 1988 fps | 96.3% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,114 psi | 86% | 1952 fps | 96.6% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 86% | 34,780 psi | 86% | 1886 fps | 99.9% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 82% | 35,853 psi | 88% | 1959 fps | 96.7% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 90% | 36,579 psi | 90% | 1991 fps | 97.6% |
| Somchem S365ᴾ | <<locked>> | 100% | 35,708 psi | 88% | 2054 fps | 98.6% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 84% | 34,693 psi | 85% | 1936 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 84% | 35,940 psi | 89% | 1942 fps | 99.8% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 90% | 34,867 psi | 86% | 1946 fps | 98.4% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 86% | 36,709 psi | 90% | 1972 fps | 99.7% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 94% | 36,158 psi | 89% | 1965 fps | 97.2% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
Start Load - Barrel Length: 26"
| Powder | Charge | FR | MaxP | % | V(0) | z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accurate 2495 | <<locked>> | 80% | 29,791 psi | 73% | 1864 fps | 100% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,142 psi | 84% | 1955 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 2520 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,142 psi | 84% | 1955 fps | 99.1% |
| Accurate 4064 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,210 psi | 69% | 1850 fps | 98.7% |
| Accurate 4350 | <<locked>> | 96% | 33,997 psi | 84% | 2008 fps | 95% |
| ADI AR 2206H | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,316 psi | 85% | 1936 fps | 96.4% |
| ADI AR 2208 | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,170 psi | 82% | 1900 fps | 95% |
| Alliant Reloder- TS 15.5 | <<locked>> | 80% | 27,992 psi | 69% | 1837 fps | 95.2% |
| Alliant Reloder-15 | <<locked>> | 82% | 32,387 psi | 80% | 1919 fps | 95.1% |
| Alliant Reloder-17 | 92.3 gr | 88% | 31,618 psi | 78% | 1962 fps | 95.5% |
| Bofors RP3 | 80.8 gr | 80% | 26,977 psi | 66% | 1831 fps | 95% |
| Hodgdon BL-C2 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,823 psi | 83% | 1959 fps | 98.2% |
| Hodgdon H4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 34,490 psi | 85% | 1946 fps | 97.1% |
| Hodgdon Hybrid 100V | <<locked>> | 94% | 30,864 psi | 76% | 1900 fps | 95.2% |
| Hodgdon LEVERevolution | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,993 psi | 71% | 1877 fps | 95.4% |
| Hodgdon TrailBoss | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,222 psi | 62% | 1142 fps | 100% |
| Hodgdon VARGET | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,980 psi | 76% | 1864 fps | 95.7% |
| IMR 3031 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,356 psi | 75% | 1900 fps | 99.8% |
| IMR 4064 | <<locked>> | 84% | 32,343 psi | 80% | 1880 fps | 95.1% |
| IMR 4895 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,038 psi | 76% | 1906 fps | 95.4% |
| Lovex D073.6 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,097 psi | 79% | 1919 fps | 98.7% |
| Lovex S062 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,197 psi | 74% | 1854 fps | 96.5% |
| Norma 201 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,620 psi | 83% | 1903 fps | 97.6% |
| Norma 202 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,489 psi | 82% | 1919 fps | 99.3% |
| Norma 203B | <<locked>> | 82% | 31,778 psi | 78% | 1913 fps | 95.6% |
| Ramshot Big Game | <<locked>> | 84% | 33,562 psi | 83% | 1959 fps | 95.8% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 14 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,454 psi | 63% | 1171 fps | 100% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 52 | <<locked>> | 82% | 33,286 psi | 82% | 1988 fps | 95.4% |
| ReloadSwiss RS 60 | 83.9 gr | 80% | 26,194 psi | 65% | 1841 fps | 95.4% |
| Rottweil R 902 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,039 psi | 79% | 1870 fps | 97% |
| Rottweil R 903 | <<locked>> | 84% | 29,008 psi | 71% | 1867 fps | 95.5% |
| Shooters World Match Rifle | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,097 psi | 79% | 1919 fps | 98.7% |
| Shooters World Precision | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,197 psi | 74% | 1854 fps | 96.5% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 11 | <<locked>> | 86% | 32,735 psi | 81% | 1949 fps | 95.6% |
| SNPE Vectan SP 9 | <<locked>> | 80% | 32,837 psi | 81% | 1913 fps | 95.8% |
| SNPE Vectan Tubal 5000 | <<locked>> | 80% | 28,834 psi | 71% | 1781 fps | 99% |
| Somchem S341 | <<locked>> | 80% | 33,605 psi | 83% | 1919 fps | 96% |
| Somchem S355 | <<locked>> | 84% | 30,400 psi | 75% | 1880 fps | 95.7% |
| Somchem S365 | <<locked>> | 92% | 27,992 psi | 69% | 1893 fps | 95.7% |
| Vihtavuori N135 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,487 psi | 75% | 1867 fps | 100% |
| Vihtavuori N140 | <<locked>> | 80% | 31,589 psi | 78% | 1870 fps | 99.2% |
| Vihtavuori N150 | <<locked>> | 80% | 25,411 psi | 63% | 1759 fps | 95% |
| Vihtavuori N540 | <<locked>> | 80% | 30,313 psi | 75% | 1860 fps | 98.6% |
| Winchester 6.5 StaBALL | <<locked>> | 90% | 31,879 psi | 79% | 1886 fps | 95.6% |
Recommended = one of the top powders for this cartridge and bullet combination.
ᴾ possible press load - work up slowly to this load while watching for signs of excessive pressure.
This overview compares 44 powders for .500 N.E. 3'' loaded with the .510 | 600gr | Woodleigh PP SN. ReloadSwiss RS 60 delivers the highest muzzle velocity at 2,060 fps; across all powders the maximum-charge window runs from 1,283 fps to 2,060 fps. Hodgdon TrailBoss gives the best case fill at 100 %, and 44 of the 44 powders fall inside the usable 80–100 % fill window.
Relative to the caliber's maximum pressure (280 MPa), the top charges use 84–90 %, leaving at least 10 % headroom. Hodgdon TrailBoss, ReloadSwiss RS 14, Somchem S365 reach 100 % fill or more at maximum charge, so these are compressed loads: they need a long drop tube to seat cleanly and react sensitively to the case capacity of your own brass lot. Alliant Reloder-17, ReloadSwiss RS 60, Bofors RP3 rank at the top here: for .500 N.E. 3'' with the .510 | 600gr | Woodleigh PP SN they combine a high case fill with complete burn and sit in the upper velocity band. Always begin at the start load and work up in small increments while checking case and primer for pressure signs.